Hand case



Patented on. zz, 193s UNITED STATES PATENT oFEicE j 1Claim.

My inventlon relates to a hand case in which books, pamphlets, or other articles may be conveniently carried, and one'object is to provide a a case of this character having stiff top and bot- 5 tom walls so that when said case is opened upon the lap of the user it will form a reliable support for one or more books, or pamphlets.

A further object is to provide the case with clips, or similar devices, for holding a book or pamphlet in open position so that the contents thereof may be easily read while the case is held in open position upon the lap.

Another object is to provide a case of this character with quick-acting fastening means whereby the case may be reliably secured in closed position.

Other objects will hereinafter appear, and in order that the invention may be fully understood reference will now be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the case in open position.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the case in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a hinge for operably connecting the two sections of the case together.

As shown by Figs. 1 and 2 the case comprises two sections 2 and 4, respectively, which are preferably duplicates in size, shape and construction.-

The section 2 comprises a stiff top wall 6, flexible end walls 8, and flexible front and rear walls I0 and I2, respectively. 'I'he wall 6 consists of wood or other stiff material, while the walls 8, lli

and I2 consist of sheets of leather or other flexible n material I4 and It, secured to the outer and inner surfaces, respectively, of the wall 8 and bent at right angles to the margins of the latter to form said walls 8, I0 and I2.

The section 4 of the case is a duplicate of the section 2, as is evidenced by corresponding reference numerals with exponents a, the only dif-y ference being that the wall 6a is a bottom wall instead of a top wall like the wall 6.

' The rear walls I2 and I2a of the sections 2 and 4, respectively, are operably connected and reinforced by a metallic hinge I8 comprising mem- .Qjers 20 and 22, each bent 'at right angles and dperably connected at their adjacent margins by a pintle 24. I'he members 20 and 22 of the hinge I8 have apertures 26 and 28 so that they may be secured by suitable means such as r'ivetsv 30 and 32 to the stiff wallsli and 6a of thesections 2 and 4, respectively. The inner surfaceA of the hinge I8 is hidden from view by the sheets I8 and Ita,

respectively, and a strip of leather or other suitable material 34, which latter is cemented or otherwise secured to the inner surface of the rear walls I2 and I2a. The outer surface of the joint between the meeting edges of the rear walls I2 and I2a, is covered with a strip of leather or other suitable material 88 which extends nearly the full length of said walls and is cemented or otherwise suitably secured thereto.

Suitable fastening means are provided for securing the two sections 2 and 4 in closed position. 5 In the present instance I have shown said fastening means in the form of the well-known zipper fastener, elements 38 and 40 of which are secured to the margins of the front, rear and end walls of the respective sections 2 and 4 and 10 are adapted to be interlocked by the usual slide 42 which is equipped with a flexible tab or fingerhold 44 whereby said slide may be operated.

In order that a book or pamphlet A may be held in open position as shown by dotted lines l5 Fig. 1, I provide the interior of section 2 of the case with resilient clips 48 adapted to overlap the leaves of the book or pamphlet when the same is opened. The ends of the clips 46 are bent and rmly secured between the stiff wall 6 and 20 the sheet I6.

From the foregoing description it will be' apparent that the case forms a convenient means for carrying one or more books, pamphlets, or other articles and when opened upon the lap of 25 the user forms a substantial support for an open book or pamphlet so .that the contents thereof may be easily read. The stiff walls 6 and'vlia, being rigid and reinforced by the hinge I8 will not bend beneath the weight of the open book or 30 pamphlet, nor will the rear wall I2 sag as the same is reinforced by the member 20 of the hinge I8. The -hinge I8 is also constructed to prevent the section 2 from swinging backwardly beyond approximately a. right angular position to section 35 v 4, as shown by dotted lines Fig. 3, and hence the book or pamphlet will be supported in the most convenient position for reading.

While I have shown a preferred arrangement of the case, I reserve all rights to such changes and modifications thereof as properly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: 45

In a device of the character described, a section comprising a top, front, rear, and end walls, another section associated with the first-mentioned section to provide a hand case and comprising a b ottom, front, rear and end walls, a 50 hinge member secured to the rear portion of the first-mentioned section and bent at right angles to reinforce the top and rear walls of said firstmentioned section, another hinge member secured to the rear portion of the second-mentioned sec- 55 tion and bent at right angles to reinforce the bottom and rear walls thereof, and a pintle operably 4connecting adjacent ends of said hinge members.

- K'ATHRINE A. FRELING. 

